Investigators say two September blasts at San Antonio ATMs led them to a north Bexar County garage stocked with materials for PETN and other devices.
SAN ANTONIO, TX — A San Antonio man was arrested Friday after federal agents searching a home in north Bexar County said they found firearms, suspected pipe bombs and chemicals used to make explosives. The arrest follows two September explosions at outdoor ATMs on the city’s North Side, authorities said.
Officials say the case matters now because the devices were powerful enough to damage equipment and prompted evacuations in a residential neighborhood during the search. Prosecutors identified the suspect as Dustin Jay Ammons, a convicted felon accused of placing pipe bombs at two bank ATMs on Sept. 12 and Sept. 26. Investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the operation with help from the FBI and local agencies. A federal complaint filed Friday details the evidence recovered and the charges Ammons faces as the investigation continues.
Agents served a search warrant shortly after dawn Friday at a house in the 300 block of Eugene Sasser, near the Timberwood Park area of north Bexar County. Neighbors reported hearing loud bangs as tactical teams moved in and were told to shelter or step away while bomb technicians worked. During the search, agents reported finding a .40-caliber pistol in a bedroom closet and components they described as consistent with a pipe bomb in a vehicle at the property. The vehicle matched the description tied to the ATM incidents, according to the complaint. “I heard a bang, bang, bang, and then officers shouting to come out with your hands up,” said neighbor Billie Thomas, who added that officials warned they might detonate something in the garage.
Investigators also documented laboratory glassware and supplies they say can be used to make Pentaerythritol tetranitrate, or PETN, a high explosive. The complaint describes multiple suspected destructive devices in various stages of construction and a short-barreled 9 mm rifle found during the sweep. Authorities say a preliminary field test of residue left at the two ATM scenes in September indicated PETN. No injuries were reported in either blast, and officials have not publicly identified the banks where the devices were placed. Ammons, 43, has a prior conviction for possession of a stolen firearm. He now faces counts of felon in possession of a firearm and possession of an unregistered destructive device. Officials said a federal district judge will determine any eventual sentence under the guidelines if he is convicted.
The September events set the investigation in motion. On Sept. 12 and again on Sept. 26, devices were placed at external ATMs at two different San Antonio banks, according to prosecutors. The machines were targeted outside normal business hours, and investigators say the intent appeared to be breaching the cash dispensers. Both scenes yielded a white powder that field-tested positive for PETN, a detail that guided the search for chemical purchases and components. ATF led the inquiry, coordinating with the San Antonio Police Department, the San Antonio Fire Department’s arson team, the Bexar County Fire Department, the Bexar County Fire Marshal’s Office and county emergency management. U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons announced the arrest Friday, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wannarka is prosecuting the case.
Friday’s warrant execution brought an unusual level of activity to the quiet subdivision. Residents described armored vehicles, agents in protective gear and utility crews standing by to cut power if needed. “I saw them go inside and then heard four loud bangs,” said neighbor Ivan Oregel, who was leaving for work around 6 a.m. Another resident said law enforcement used flash-bangs and warned that bomb technicians would neutralize items found in the garage. The ATF later confirmed portions of the operation included controlled detonations. A CPS Energy crew responded to a fire alarm report and remained nearby as a precaution, according to workers on scene.
As of Saturday, prosecutors had not announced additional charges beyond the firearm and destructive-device counts. Ammons was booked into federal custody following the Friday search. An initial appearance in federal court is expected in San Antonio early next week, when a judge could address detention. Authorities did not disclose how they first identified Ammons as a suspect, citing the ongoing investigation. Officials also have not publicly detailed the full list of items removed from the house or whether any completed devices were rendered safe at the scene. The complaint says the case remains active and laboratory testing will continue on powders and components seized at the residence.
The alleged ATM plot echoes past attempts elsewhere to blast into cash machines, but investigators noted PETN’s presence raised concerns about the potential for more powerful devices. In San Antonio and Bexar County, multi-agency responses to explosive discoveries are not uncommon; bomb technicians typically coordinate with federal agents when regulated materials or interstate violations are suspected. Friday’s operation — with ATF leading and the FBI assisting — fit that pattern. While officials emphasized that no one was injured, they said the discovery of a home setup for making explosives in a dense neighborhood increased the urgency to move quickly once probable cause was established.
As of this update, the residence on Eugene Sasser had been cleared, and agents were cataloging evidence for federal court. Prosecutors said more information could be released with the defendant’s first court appearance, anticipated in the coming days. Investigators continue to review surveillance, test residues and trace the origin of chemicals and parts. Neighbors told reporters they expect to see patrols over the weekend as the area returns to normal. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said additional updates will follow as the case advances.
Author note: Last updated December 13, 2025.